‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's impact in white-ball cricket can be bigger than Sachin Tendulkar’- Robin Uthappa; gives him Kambli-Shaw warning

Sooryavanshi broke Sachin Tendulkar's record for youngest debutant for India in international cricket.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can make an even greater impact on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, according to former India batsman Robin Uthappa.

He emphasized, however, that the young player's long-term success will rely on how well his career is managed, using Prithvi Shaw and Vinod Kambli as instances of gifted players whose careers stalled.

Sooryavanshi made a record-breaking India debut at the age of 15 years in the recent T20I series against England. He broke the record for the youngest India debutant, which was held by Sachin Tendulkar, who was 16 when he made his India debut against Pakistan in 1989.

He had a tough initiation against England, but then came back in a big way against Zimbabwe with two half-centuries and a Player of the Series award.

The comeback not only demonstrated his capacity to bounce back from setbacks, but it also reinforced the notion that he possesses the attitude and skill to play a significant role for India in the coming years.

"He could have a bigger impact on white-ball than Tendulkar. But how he's managed is going to be important. We've seen in Indian cricket exciting players come through the ranks. We saw Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw and started asking what they would become when they were 17-18 years old. And then suddenly they fall off the wagon," Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

Uthappa also asked those around Sooryavanshi to keep the boy away from extraneous distractions, saying the next few years would be critical in shaping his future. He applauded the 15-year-old for choosing cricket over commercial offers and emphasized the significance of maintaining his focus as his fame rises.

"So that will be Vaibhav's first test. Can he stay pristine for the game over a period of five years? He's 15 now, so can he stay pristine till he's 20? There's so much innocence to who he is that you want that to be protected. I love the fact that he's saying no to every advertisement and he's focusing only on cricket. Because when he's 18, he'll start being perceived as a man and the female attention will come. That can be a distraction as well," he added.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be in action for India when they play in the Asian Games next.